Tag Archives: LAPD

Even before the demise of rogue ex LAPD cop Christopher Dorner, there was endless speculation that the Justice Department or an independent commission would step in to investigate whether there was anything to Dorner’s claims that police misconduct is routinely covered up within the department. Dorner, as we all now know, used himself as supposedly the prime example of how abuse is swept under the rug and worse, the one that calls it out, is vilified and dumped. The fact that there is some clamor for an outside investigation of Dorner’s claims is no surprise. It can easily be explained by the deep skepticism, even antipathy, in some circles toward the LAPD. And given the department’s history, there’s reason for that.

But Dorner’s alleged murderous rampage, shot to smithereens any credibility that his charges might have had, not the resonance of his charges, just the credibility of him and them. That’s simply not enough to change, nor should it be, an LAPD that’s already done much to change the way it does business. Part of that change has been to do much more effective and thorough due diligence in scrutinizing those officers accused of misconduct.

The irony is that Dorner’s “manifesto” in a perverse, back door way proves that. He tells how the department conducted exhaustive interviews with witnesses to the alleged act of misconduct he reported, had a board hearing, and a court hearing. In other words, it went through layer after layer of investigation and review. In the end, he lost. Would a civilian hearing, attorneys, and outside arbiters, running the investigation, have vindicated Dorner. The odds are no.

So LAPD Chief Beck’s promise to reopen the case is the right move to make not to placate a dead ex-cop that wreaked havoc, but to reaffirm that the procedures are firmly in place to weed out misconduct. Dorner’s demise won’t change that.

Robert Saltzman needs to read his new business card. The Los Angeles BOPC does not the stand for Board of Political Correctness. It is the Board of Police Commissioners, and bears some of the greatest responsibilities in Southern California .

Saltzman is its newest member and his decisions will directly influence life or death situations that impact cops, crooks and citizens alike. Sadly, Mr. Saltzman’s first comments on these responsibilities reflect a stunning lack of knowledge about the Los Angeles Police Department: “Diversifying the police force is a significant problem, perhaps the most significant problem facing the force,” said the USC Law School Associate Dean, in a story in Friday’s DN by Rachel Uranga.

Clearly, Mr. Saltzman has not studied the LAPD. Had he, his comments would reflect facts like these:

71% of the officers graduating from the LAPD’s last four academy classes have been ethnic minorities. Many of the remaining 29% were caucasian women.

More than 45% have been Hispanic

Those classes averaged 17% female

Moreover, had Mr. Saltzman done his homework, he would know that “diversity” of the LAPD did nothing to prevent the problems in the Rampart CRASH squad. The primary perpetrators of the worst LAPD corruption in 50 years were Hispanic and Black. Changing the LAPD’s “color” did no favors for Javier Ovando, who was shot by the very diverse Rafael Perez and Nino Durden. And it did nothing to prevent the MacArthur Park fiasco. Out of the three most senior folks directly involved – the two ground commanders and the Assistant Chief who signed off on the May 1 planning – there was uno gringo hombre.

Clearly a lack of diversity did not contribute to those problems.

More bothersome, Mr. Saltzman’s comments came just hours after an undercover (and thus unnamed) Hollenbeck Division officer was run over and horribly injured by a fleeing suspect. This incident has already raised tremendous questions among LAPD rank-and-file as to whether the BOPC’s new post-Devon Brown shooting policy (which essentially prohibits firing at moving vehicles) nearly got this officer killed.

Unfortunately, the attempted murder of a cop isn’t on the radar of the LAPD’s newest leader. For what it’s worth, I’m told this officer is Hispanic – he’s diverse!! – so it’s politically correct for Commissioner Saltzman to care.

The officers I know – almost all beat coppers exclusively below the rank of lieutenant – would prefer that Mr. Saltzman devote his attention to addressing a few other issues that impact the day-to-day policing of Los Angeles. A sampling of the greater concerns:

Officers (of all “diversities”) are fleeing the LAPD. Why?

The Consent Decree is tying cops hands and keeping hard charging cops out of choice assignments. How does that lower crime? How does it solve the above problem?

Gang members are said to be getting through the LAPD hiring process – academy cadets have been caught throwing gang signs in the hallways. Is that just maybe a bad sign? Or is that the kind of diversity he strives for? After all, crooks are part of society. Perhaps the LAPD reflect them as well.

I’m told of cadets re-cycled five and six times, who have been in training longer than a lot of their instructors have been at the Recruit Training Center . Is that the kind of diversity you want, Mr. Saltzman? Is that the cop you want coming to your door with a loaded gun?

The revised Shooting Policy might have resulted in gruesome injuries to one cop already. Perhaps it should be changed before one gets killed? Maybe?

The Department’s ASTRO radios are falling apart and quite nearly useless. They are a threat to the safety of officers and citizens alike (calling 911 is useless if the dispatcher can’t raise an officer). “If there’s another Northridge Earthquake, the peole of Los Angeles will see just how bad the ASTROs are,” one copper told me. Perhaps funding their replacements will save more lives than counting noses?

Yes, dealing with these issues will force a lefty like Mr. Saltzman to blame someone other than the LAPD for all the world’s faults. But, it might just make LA a safer place for folks of all colors – even the ones in blue.